Taylor Swift has developed powerful parasocial bonds with her Swifties through her diary-like lyrics. But what does she owe them?Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
However, fans being given some personal insight into celebrities’ lives shouldn’t mean they’re entitled to unlimited access. “Celebrities should not just have to put up with these encounters,” says Sean Redmond, RMIT’s associate dean of media, writing and publishing. “They are human beings too, mere mortals behind the make-up, and there are clearly private spaces where they have an ethical right to be left alone.”
Interactions at an organised event like a red carpet or concert are appropriate, Redmond says, but they become ambiguous once the celebrity is “off the clock”.
“Chance encounters, such as at an airport or car park, can be awkward and personal barriers can be broken. I bumped into Nick Cave at an exhibition at the NGV in Melbourne and so wanted to wrap my arms around him. Luckily, he gave me the ‘Bad Seed death stare’, and I moved on.”
Celebrities can rarely be separated from their art now. Thanks to social media, smartphones, and 24-hour media cycles, a celebrity is “always on stage”, Redmond says. Many celebrities are also leaning into authenticity, promising their fans that what they see is truly who they are, which can blur the boundaries of a private self.
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However, as RMIT fan studies PhD candidate Kate Pattison points out, many fandoms can still distinguish between a celebrity’s private and professional life, and some even police each other’s behaviour to protect this distinction.
“Swifties are often quick to call out people who wait outside Swift’s apartment and won’t share paparazzi photos that disclose her location,” Pattison says.
“The behaviour of a small group shouldn’t be conflated with fan culture as a whole … I’ll always advocate for celebrities to engage with their fans. While some aspects of parasocial relationships may have negative impacts, being a fan can be a really enriching and meaningful experience.”
It ultimately comes down to respect, Pattison says. Celebrities like Roan should feel free to expose inappropriate behaviour and set personal boundaries, as long as it’s done in a way that doesn’t diminish the wider fandom – that is ultimately what keeps them relevant.